Tsunami forces Sunderland Nissan plant to shut down for three days because of shortage of parts from Japan

The devastating Japanese earthquake and tsunami has now forced Nissan to shut down production for three days at its Sunderland plant because of a shortage of vital components.

The shut down will take place at the end of April from 26 to 28 inclusive, the car giant announced today.

It comes just 24 hours after the disaster forced car giant Honda to halve production at its UK factory as Toyota also battles to deal with the aftermath of the quake.

Supply problems: Nissan's Sunderland plant will be shut down for three days due to a parts shortage caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan

Nissan, which employs 4,900 at its Sunderland factory, said: 'Since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Nissan has been assessing and planning for any disruption to its global overseas manufacturing operation.

'Due to an interruption to the normal supply of components, Sunderland will introduce three non-production days into its schedule from 26th – 28th April, inclusive.'

Nissan runs up to three shifts but said April's working time calendar 'doesn't contain any overtime'.

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Last year the Sunderland factory produced a record 423,262 cars and builds the Juke, Note, and Qashqai models. It has just launched in the UK its all-electric Leaf car, which is currently sourced from Japan, but built in Sunderland from 2013.

The company said of the production halt: 'The effect on staff will be kept to an absolute minimum by bringing forward non-production days already planned for later in the year and by continuing to respond flexibly to the temporary disruption.'

It insisted: 'Demand for all Sunderland-produced models remains high, and once the normal delivery of components has been re-established, the plant will work to recover any lost volume as quickly as possible.'

Postponed production: Nissan's Sunderland factory makes the Juke model but will shut down from April 26-28 due to a tsunami-influenced supply shortage

Nissan said it was suffering 'temporary operational difficulties' but was 'well-placed to respond quickly and flexibly to the current challenges' adding: 'We are confident of making a complete recovery in the short term.'

Nissan explained: 'Despite an unavoidable interruption to production schedules, Nissan is wholly-focused on minimising any impact on customers or staff throughout this period, and every effort is being made to return to normal operation as quickly as possible.

But customers of Japanese cars have been warned that delays to some orders would be 'inevitable'.

Slashing production at Honda's Swindon plant will begin from next week until the end of May and the move will lead to 22,500 fewer cars being built there. The 3,000 strong workforce will remain on full pay, although Honda said it will make up the production by the end of the financial year.

Most parts for the three models built in Swindon are sourced in Europe, but a number of key components - particularly electrical - continue to be supplied from Japan.

Officials at Honda said: 'There may be some inevitable delays on some customer orders, but this will vary from model to model depending on stocks. But we are doing everything we can to minimise disruption. We're all in the same boat.'

Devastation: Waves overwhelm a levee, swallowing a seaside village near the mouth of Hei River after a tsunami and an earthquake hit Japan on March 11

Up to 80 per cent of the parts in vehicles built in Britain by Honda, Toyota and Nissan are produced and sourced in the UK or on the Continent. But some vital, hi-tech parts such as electronic components, computerised engine management systems, batteries and petrol-electric hybrid engines - are shipped over from Japan.

Honda, Nissan and Toyota all apply the super-efficient Japanese 'just in time' principle, which relies on key components arriving on the production line exactly when required to reduce the costly need to hold stocks at or near the factory.

Ships from Japan take around four to six weeks to arrive in Britain. But the parts supplies already in transit when the earthquake struck will by now have been largely delivered and used up.

Honda said: 'Production volume will continue at approximately 50per cent of the planned weekly level from April 11.By taking this action, Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) will be able to continue production by utilising our flexible working policy.'

Ken Keir, executive vice president of Honda Motor Europe, said he appreciated customers' understanding during ' these challenging times'.

Following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, Honda suspended car and component production in Japan. It announced last month that car production at its Suzuka and Sayama factories would resume from April 11. But parts supply from Japan remains 'unstable' and at around 50 per cent of the original plan.

People walk through the tsunami-devastated city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan - more than 12,000 people have been killed by the disaster

Honda has invested £1.44billion in its Swindon operation, which started building engines in 1989 and cars three years later. Swindon has an annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles and builds around 630 vehicles a day. It built 139,000 cars last year - the CR-V off-roader, Civic hatchback and Jazz super-mini.

The 3,000 Honda workers will remain on full pay, and the halving of
production will lead to 22,500 fewer cars being built, although the firm
said it will make up the production by the end of the financial year.

The closures come as Toyota cancelled overtime and weekend work at its Burnaston plant in Derbyshire which employs 2,800 and at its engine plant in Deeside which employs 480. It made 137,000 vehicles last year working two shifts weekdays building the Avensis, Auris and Auris petrol-electric hybrid models.